Musings on science, the Bible, and fantastic literature (and sometimes basketball and other stuff).
God speaks to us through the Bible and the findings of science, and we should listen to both types of revelation.
The title is from Psalm 84:11.
The Wikipedia is usually a pretty good reference. I mostly use the World English Bible (WEB), because is public domain. I am grateful.

Monday, January 28, 2013

I understand that there are conservative Christians who reject the
idea of a Big Bang. I suppose that most of these, at least the ones who
can give a good reason for such rejection, do so either because they
believe that the earth is only a few thousand years old, or because, in
their minds, the Big Bang is associated with evolution, which they
reject.As to the first, it is possible, indeed, that the earth is only a few thousand years old. (But see this post, and others, on a book by a believing Christian, scientist, and Bible scholar, David Snoke, entitled A Biblical Case for an Old Earth.)
Even if the earth were only a few thousand years old, the Bible does
not explicitly say that the universe is the same age as the earth. I
don't see anything in the Bible that would rule out an ancient universe.I also take two Biblical statements seriously. These are Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:20,
both of which tell us that one of God's ways of revealing himself to us
is through what nature tells us. Much of what nature tells us,
especially about things which are very small, very large, or very far
away, or were very long ago, can come to us only though scientific
findings. These findings may be mistaken at times, but they should
certainly not be rejected out of hand. There is good scientific evidence
that there was a Big Bang, and that it took place a very long time ago.The Big Bang was not
proposed as some sort of anti-God crusade. On the contrary, the first
good evidence for a Big Bang was discovered by accident, by scientists
who weren't looking for such evidence. The Big Bang, as an
explanation for the origin of the universe as we know it, is taken by some scientists, even unbelieving scientists, as
evidence for the existence of a divine Creator.
For example, here's what the late Robert Jastrow wrote, about the discovery of evidence for the Big Bang, in his book, God and the Astronomers:For
the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the
story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance;
he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the
final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting
there for centuries. (New York: Warner Books, 1978, pp. 105-106.) Jastrow, according to the Wikipedia article
on him, was not a Christian, but an agnostic. However, he believed that
science had no explanation for what came before, or caused, the Big
Bang, and acknowledged that the Judeo-Christian religions do have an
explanation, namely that an eternal God began the universe with a
supernatural act, or acts, such as the Big Bang. When the Big Bang theory was first proposed,
as Jastrow indicated, there were scientists who were pretty upset about
the idea, because there was no good explanation for what caused it, or
what, if anything, came before it. There still isn't an explanation that
has been proved experimentally, although there have been attempts at
such explanations, most notably by Stephen Hawking.Acceptance
of the idea of a Big Bang was slow. The evidence for a Big Bang is
good, considering how long ago it would have happened, and the idea is
accepted by most scientists. The evidence for it, to me, is an important
part of God's revelation to us.As to the connection
to evolution, there is no direct connection. In the first place,
evolution, like any controversial subject, should be defined
before it is discussed at all. This, unfortunately, happens only
rarely. In the second place, evolution is a biological process. The Big
Bang was a physical process.What Christians should be concerned about, even if they have the wrong name for it, is not evolution, but naturalism.
That's what most conservative Christians really mean when they say that they don't believe in evolution. (There is good evidence, generally accepted, for at least some types of evolution. The most ardent Young-Earth Creationist scientists believe that humans evolved into more than one race, or ethnic group*, since the time of Noah, for example.) Naturalism is the idea that there are natural, as opposed to
supernatural, explanations for everything. It is, therefore, a form of
atheism. Naturalism is believed by many scientists, and others, although there is no definitive evidence for it. The most prominent naturalist is Richard Dawkins, a competent biologist, but also a popular writer, crusading against Christianity and other religions. But even Dawkins does not claim that he has disproved God's existence, which, if he had, would prove naturalism. The Bible begins with a statement that, if true, destroys naturalism: In the beginning, God created
. . . Genesis 1 doesn't tell us when, why, or how. It does tell us that
there was a Who. Naturalism says that there wasn't, and isn't, any Who. Christians believe that there was, and is. Undoubtedly, some people who believe in naturalism do so because, if it were true, it would mean that there are no Divinely created moral laws, and they want to believe that there aren't any such.If
someone says that the Big Bang event proves that there is no God, they
are mistaken. There is no such proof. On the contrary, supposing that God started the universe with a Big Bang makes good sense. If someone says that evolution,
however defined, proves that there is no God, they are similarly
mistaken. There is no such proof. On the contrary, God may have used
natural selection, the Big Bang, or both, as part of His method of
making things like they are now. Knowledge and prior
planning like that would be as wonderful, or more so, as creating
every type of atom, and every type of living thing, from scratch.

It's not the Bible, but the movie, God's Not Dead, was generally well-received by the conservative Christian community. (The more recent movie, Do You Believe? was made by the same group, and there was also a God's Not Dead 2.) See here for my review of God's not Dead. In that review, I point out that the fictional main Christian character accepts the ideas that God used the Big Bang, and evolution to bring the world to its current state, in his defense of the existence of God.As Hebrews 11 puts it: 3 By faith, we understand
that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is
seen has not been made out of things which are visible (World English Bible, public domain).

Some Christians, and others, claim that atheists/naturalists have no ground for finding purpose and meaning in life, or in existence. This article claims they do, indeed, have reason for meaning and purpose. This post is revised from a previous one, now removed. Thanks for reading.

Notes

The paragraphs beginning "It's not the Bible," and "Some Christians, and others," were added on February 3, 2016.

*Note added, December 23, 2015. This originally was "type," rather than "race, or ethnic group." As I understand it, that original wording led to the first comment below. Sorry for the confusion that caused.

Note added, August 1, 2013. Commenter Laginestra (see below) points out that the Big Bang theory doesn't actually describe the origin of the universe, but the earlydevelopment of the the universe. In other words, it doesn't specify where the universe, if it began with a big bang, came from. The universe had to be present, in some form, before there could have been a big bang. However, most people, including me at times, don't realize that, or don't make that distinction. Stephen Hawking is one scientist who has attempted to explain the origin of the universe. I thank the commenter for that important distinction.Added, May 17, 2014. Here's a good article on the history of the discovery of the evidence for the Big Bang. The article also considers the possibility of multiple universes.

Added, May 29, 2014. Here's a good article the history of the idea of a Big Bang. Fred Hoyle, apparently an atheist, believed in a steady-state universe, one which didn't need some sort of start, apparently for religious reasons. (He was anti-Christian and anti-Jewish.) Hoyle is responsible for the term, "Big Bang," which was meant to be a mockery of the idea.

On January 23, 2017, the post was slightly edited for English usage mistakes.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Prayer believes in, and seeks for the very highest religious life set before us in the Word of God. Prayer is the condition of that life. Prayer points out the only pathway to such a life.The standard of a religious life is the standard of prayer. Prayer is so vital, so essential, so far-reaching, that it enters into all religion, and sets the standard clear and definite before the eye. The degree of our estimate of prayer fixes our ideas of the standard of a religious life. The standard of Bible religion is the standard of prayer. The more there is of prayer in the life, the more definite and the higher our notions of religion.The Scriptures alone make the standard of life and experience. When we make our own standard, there is delusion and falsity for our desires, convenience and pleasure form the rule, and that is always a fleshly and a low rule. From it, all the fundamental principles of a Christly religion are left out. Whatever standard of religion which makes in it provision for the flesh, is unscriptural and hurtful.Nor will it do to leave it to others to fix the standard of religion for us. When we allow others to make our standard of religion, it is generally deficient because in imitation, defects are transferred to the imitator more readily than virtues, and a second edition of a man is marred by its defects.

- From The Essentials of Prayer, by E. M. Bounds.

Although E. M. Bounds
died in 1913, this book was first published in 1925, by an admirer of
the author's life. Bounds was known for praying from four until seven
each morning.

This post is one of a series, taken from The Essentials of Prayer, by Bounds. Found through the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, here. The Essentials of Prayer is in the public domain. The previous post in the entire series on the book is here. Thanks for reading. Read this book, and, more importantly, practice, prayer.

Friday, January 25, 2013

The Ten Commandments (quoted from the World English
Bible, public domain)

Old
Testament

New
Testament

Exodus 20:
(Deuteronomy 5 repeats this.)

Matthew
5:17 Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t
come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Also Matt. 19:17-20)

1 You
shall have no other gods before me.

(The Bible doesn't number the Commandments.)

Matthew
4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You
shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”

2 You
shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in
the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth.

1
Corinthians 8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to
idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no
other God but one. 5 For though there are things that are called “gods”,
whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many
“lords”; 6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things,
and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and
we live through him.

3 You
shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain

James 5:12 But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear— not by heaven, or by the
earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”,
“no”; so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy

4 Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor six days, and do all your
work

(The
principles of this command, worship with others, rest, still hold.)

Mark 2:27
He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore
the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Romans
14:5 One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day
alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 6a He who observes the
day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the
Lord he does not observe it.

The
Sabbath was from at sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday. Seventh
Day Adventists observe this now.

5 Honor
your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which
Yahweh your God gives you.

Matthew
15:4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’
and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5
But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you
might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” 6 he shall not
honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void
because of your
tradition.

6 You
shall not murder.

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not
murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I
tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be
in danger of the judgment (Several translations don’t say “without a cause.”)

7 You
shall not commit adultery.

Matthew
5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has
committed adultery with her already in his heart.

8 You
shall not steal.

Ephesians
4:28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing
with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to
him who has need

9 You
shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

John 5:31
“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. 32 It is another who
testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is
true. (Included in Matthew 19:17-20)

Luke 12:15
He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life
doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

The
Ten Commandments don’t mention love, and nothing in them forbids hypocrisy.
Jesus took care of hypocrisy – see His take on the 6th & 7th
above – our motives are critically important. Love was covered in Deuteronomy 6:5:
You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your might. Also, in Leviticus 19:18a You shall not take vengeance,
nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love
your neighbor as yourself. In Mark 12:28-34 (Also in Matthew 22:35-40, Luke
10:25-37) Jesus affirmed these two, as the most important commandments. Both,
especially the first, were known to the Jews of His day.Commandments
1-4 are about our relationship to God. 5-10 are about our relationship to
others.

Except
for the literal 4th Commandment, all of the Ten were affirmed in the
New Testament, and Jesus told His followers to rest, and we are admonished to worship with others, in the New Testament, too. Much of the Jewish law, however, does not apply to us. In Acts
15, the early church decided that Gentile believers should not be required to
follow almost all of the Jewish laws, such as dietary regulations. We do not
sacrifice as the Jews did.

The
Ten Commandments are about things we shouldn’t do. Stealing is a sin of commission. In addition to
things we should not do, there are things that we should do. If we don’t do
them, we have committed a sin of
omission: James 4:17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do
it, to him it is sin. (See also Matthew 25:31-45.)

A
summary commandment, for 5-10, is the Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 Therefore whatever you desire for men
to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.We
can’t keep any set of commandments in our hearts without the help of the Holy
Spirit.

For Old Testament summaries, see Deuteronomy 10:12 Now, Israel,
what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk
in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your
heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep Yahweh’s commandments and statutes,
which I command you today for your good? Also:

Micah 6:8 He
has shown you, O man, what is good.

What does
Yahweh require of you, but to act justly,

to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus
19:20), also called Mt. Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:5).

It
wasn’t just Moses who interacted with God. Exodus 24, we read:

3 Moses came and told the people all Yahweh’s words, and all the ordinances;
and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which
Yahweh has spoken will we do.”

4
Moses wrote all Yahweh’s words, and rose up early in the morning, and built an
altar under the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5
He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and
sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to Yahweh. 6 Moses took half of the blood
and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He
took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and
they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken will we do, and be obedient.”

8
Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is
the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these
words.”

9
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.
10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire
stone, like the skies for clearness. 11 He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of
the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.

12
Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will
give you the stone tablets with the law and the commands that I have written,
that you may teach them.”

13
Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God’s Mountain.
14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come again to you.
Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to
them.”

Neither
Exodus 20, nor Deuteronomy 5, have the phrase, “Ten Commandments,” nor are they
numbered in either place, but see:Exodus 34:27 Yahweh said to Moses, “Write you
these words: for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you
and with Israel.” 28 He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he
neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the
covenant, the ten commandments.

The
Ten Commandments (possibly other laws, too) were written on stone by God,
Himself: Deuteronomy 4:13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded
you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets.
(Also 5:22)Exodus 32:19 tells us that Moses broke the tablets they were
written on. In Exodus 34, Moses was commanded to make two new stone tablets,
and God re-wrote the Ten Commandments on them. In Exodus 25:10-16, Moses was
instructed that the stone tablets were to be placed in the Ark of the Covenant,
which was in the Tabernacle, later in the Temple.

In
2 Corinthians, Paul referred to the Ten Commandments, on their tablets of
stone, as follows:

3:2
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being
revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink,
but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets
that are hearts of flesh.

Thanks for reading. See here for the Biblical usages of the words adultery and and fornication.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Some versions of the Bible use the word fornication. Here's a link to a word search for that word in the King James Version, from the Blueletter Bible. There are over 30 occurrences there.AdulteryI have, until recently, supposed that fornication refers to casual sex, between people who aren't married to each other, or to anyone else, whether they are living together, or engage in "one-night stands." In fact, the Wikipedia backs that up: "Fornication typically refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other." I also supposed that the Bible forbids such behavior. That is a common view among Christians.The Blueletter Bible gives an Outline of Biblical Usage for μοιχεύω, moicheuō, the Greek word translated as adultery, as follows:1) to commit adultery

d)
A Hebrew idiom, the word is used of those who at a woman's solicitation
are drawn away to idolatry, i.e. to the eating of things sacrificed to
idols

Except for the last one, this matches current usage.

Uses of the word, fornication, in the BibleBut things aren't that simple for fornication. Fornication has a wider Biblical usage, in those Bible translations that use it, than the one given above.A look at the list of occurrences of fornication in the King James shows that, of the 30-plus occurrences of the word, several do not refer to sexual activity at all, but to idol worship. In fact, the four uses in the Old Testament are all about idol worship, not sexual activity.The Blueletter Bible also gives an Outline of Biblical Usage for πορνεία, porneia, the Greek work translated as fornication in the King James and other versions:

a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

In other words, the meaning of fornication, in some versions of the Bible, is much broader than the common current definition. Like "charity" in 1 Corinthians 13, the meaning has changed. It's no wonder that several versions of the Bible don't use it, or use it less. The New King James has about half as many occurrences as the King James. The New International Version, the New Living Translation, and the English Standard Version don't use the word at all. The New American Standard Bible uses it only four times, all in the New Testament.God's plan The Bible definitely forbids adultery, which is when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not their marriage partner. See here for the Ten Commandments, which forbid adultery. It also condemns homosexual activity, rape, seduction, prostitution and patronizing prostitutes, as well as having sex with animals and close relatives or in-laws. (Except for the first one, the links in the previous sentence do not reference all the Biblical statements on the particular subject.) However, to my amazement, I can not find an explicit statement forbidding living with someone, in a heterosexual relationship, without being married to that person, except that Jesus did point out that the woman at the well was living with a man, but was not married to him. I also can not find a statement forbidding casual one-time consensual, non-commercial sex, unless it's the statement on seduction. Here's a good article on sexual immorality in the Bible, and there's no such situation mentioned. If you find Biblical statements on these, which don't use the word fornication, please let me know. Comments may be made below, or, if you know my e-mail address, or how to contact me personally, please e-mail me or tell me. Thanks.Does this mean that casual sex, or cohabitation without marriage, is OK? No. One possible reason why these sorts of behavior may not be spoken of is that the opportunity may have been rare. There are statements condemning sex with someone who is engaged to someone else in the Old Testament. As indicated in the story of Mary and Joseph, engagement (KJV "espoused to") seems to have been a more serious matter than it is in most of present-day North America. Most likely, young people were engaged earlier than most couples are engaged today, and, therefore, sex with another single person may have usually been covered under the prohibition against having sex with someone who was engaged. There may have been few, or no, non-engaged persons to have sexual relations with. A second reason may be that not having sexual relations of the kind at the beginning of this paragraph isn't specifically prohibited would have been understood. There are things that everybody knew in Bible times that we don't know. To take a trivial example, most pictures and movies that show Jesus show Him with a beard. But the Bible says nothing about that. Most likely, every male wore a beard in those days, and there was no reason to explain it. When the best modern translations tell us to avoid sexual immorality, in Acts 15, most likely casual sex and cohabitation were part of what was understood to be included in that prohibition. We should have that understanding today.There's another, more important reason why casual sex, or cohabitation, aren't explicitly condemned. That reason is that God's best plan for relationships is for a woman and a man to be married to each other. This is presented, in various ways, throughout the entire Bible, from Adam and Eve in Genesis through the church as the Bride of Christ in Revelation, and often in between. Some of the presentations in the Bible are of relationships that have gone wrong, and are presented as such, such as the stories of David and Bathsheba, of Hosea and his unnamed wife, or the picture of Israel as God's faithless wife in Ezekiel 16. Some, like the relationship between Mary and Joseph, or between Priscilla and Aquila, are presentations of relationships that have measured up to God's plan. God's plan, heterosexual monogamy, presented in various ways, some most dramatic, argues against various perversions by showing what the way ought to be.Thanks for reading!

July 26, 2015. Here's an article in Relevant, coming to the same conclusion I have, namely that explicit condemnation of sex before marriage is difficult to find in the Bible, but it's still wrong.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Arts: (Actually, education) Seattle teachers have
refused
to administer a state-mandated test to their students, according to
NPR.

Politics: (or Christianity)Wired reports on
a student who was told she had to cease attending a public high school because she wouldn't
wear an RFID chip in her school lanyard (on the grounds that that is
related to the mark of the beast. It's a complex story.

Freebook Sifter
lists many free books available in Kindle format, complete with the number of reviews, and the average number of stars in the reviews for each book.
It's not just a list. You can browse by topics and subtopics. Gizmo's Freeware, where I saw this listed, says that some of the books on the list
are not free, presumably because Amazon or the publisher has changed the price.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Much of the feebleness, barrenness and paucity of religion results from the failure to have a Scriptural and reasonable standard in religion, by which to shape character and measure results; and this largely results from the omission of prayer or the failure to put prayer in the standard. We cannot possibly mark our advances in religion if there is no point to which we are definitely advancing. Always there must be something definite before the mind’s eye at which we are aiming and to which we are driving. We cannot contrast shapeliness with unshapeliness if there be no pattern after which to model. Neither can there be inspiration if there be no high end to stimulate us.Many Christians are disjointed and aimless because they have no pattern before them after which conduct and character are to be shaped. They just move on aimlessly, their minds in a cloudy state, no pattern in view, no point in sight, no standard after which they are striving. There is no standard by which to value and gauge their efforts. No magnet is there to fill their eyes, quicken their steps, and to draw them and keep them steady.All this vague idea of religion grows out of loose notions about prayer. That which helps to make the standard of religion clear and definite is prayer. That which aids in placing that standard high is prayer. The praying ones are those who have something definite in view.In fact prayer itself is a very definite thing, aims at something specific, and has a mark at which it aims. Prayer aims at the most definite, the highest and the sweetest religious experience.The praying ones want all that God has in store for them. They are not satisfied with anything like a low religious life, superficial, vague and indefinite. The praying ones are not only after a “deeper work of grace,” but want the very deepest work of grace possible and promised. They are not after being saved from some sin, but saved from all sin, both inward and outward. They are after not only deliverance from sinning, but from sin itself, from its being, its power and its pollution. They are after holiness of heart and life.

- From The Essentials of Prayer, by E. M. Bounds.

Although E. M. Bounds
died in 1913, this book was first published in 1925, by an admirer of
the author's life. Bounds was known for praying from four until seven
each morning.

This post is one of a series, taken from The Essentials of Prayer, by Bounds. Found through the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, here. The Essentials of Prayer is in the public domain. The previous post in the entire series on the book is here. Thanks for reading. Read this book, and, more importantly, practice, prayer.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

I recently did a search for occurrences of the word, "father," in the Bible. I wasn't looking for it, but was struck by the number of times it was used in each of the four gospels.

Here's a link to the results of that search, using the English Standard Version.

The frequencies in the four gospels are these:

in Matthew: 70. 15 of these are in the genealogies at the beginning of Matthew. 15 are in the Sermon on the Mount, where something like "your Father which is in heaven" occurs frequently. There are 40 more references. It seems clear that Matthew wanted his readers to think of Christ (and themselves) in relationship to God the Father.

in Mark: 17. Most of these refer to an earthly father, not to God the Father.

in Luke: 41. 9 of these are from the parable of the Prodigal Son. Roughly half of the rest relate to God the Father.

in John: 108! I found that number to be astounding, especially considering that John doesn't have genealogies, or the parable of the Prodigal Son. Most of the statements are about God the Father. I suppose that the most significant is John 10:10, where Jesus said that He and the Father were one.

The frequent use, especially in John, indicates that Jesus, and the gospel writers, believed that the idea of a relationship with God the Father, through the Son, was important.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The spirit of consecration is the spirit of prayer. The law of consecration is the law of prayer. Both laws work in perfect harmony without the slightest jar or discord. Consecration is the practical expression of true prayer. People who are consecrated are known by their praying habits. Consecration thus expresses itself in prayer. He who is not interested in prayer has no interest in consecration. Prayer creates an interest in consecration, then prayer brings one into a state of heart where consecration is a subject of delight, bringing joy of heart, satisfaction of soul, contentment of spirit. The consecrated soul is the happiest soul. There is no friction whatever between him who is fully given over to God and God’s will. There is perfect harmony between the will of such a man and God, and His will. And the two wills being in perfect accord, this brings rest of soul, absence of friction, and the presence of perfect peace.

- From The Essentials of Prayer, by E. M. Bounds.

Although E. M. Bounds
died in 1913, this book was first published in 1925, by an admirer of
the author's life. Bounds was known for praying from four until seven
each morning.

This post is one of a series, taken from The Essentials of Prayer, by Bounds. Found through the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, here. The Essentials of Prayer is in the public domain. The previous post in the entire series on the book is here. Thanks for reading. Read this book, and, more importantly, practice, prayer.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

iGoogle, which has enabled me to have a home page that shows, or links to, almost everything I use, is going away for good in November.

I have previously posted on alternatives to this program. Currently, I am using FVD Speed Dial in parallel with iGoogle, and have come to rely on it.

FVD Speed Dial,
which lets me set up a screen full of icons that I make, from the web
site's web page. I have set my FVD page up to open automatically
whenever I open a new tab. My FVD Speed Dial page can be synchronized
across computers. The program is free, and works with both Firefox and Google Chrome. I see 18 icons -- meaning links to 18 web pages, on opening, and can scroll down to 12 more. I could add more icons (or speed dials) if I want to.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

A recent report on Fox News (from the AP) says that healthcare spending, which has been growing faster than the economy for several years, has only been growing about as fast as the economy for the past three years, which is good news. The fact that the US still spends ". . . far more than any other economically advanced country spends" is not good news. And that was in 2011, before much, if any, of so-called Obamacare took effect.

The report goes on to say that this would be a good time for Congress and the President to do something serious about the growth of healthcare spending, which most likely will go back to increasing soon, if they don't.

Thanks for reading.

For more information on healthcare spending, see a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which has several useful tables and graphs, and also this Wikipedia article.

(World English Bible, public domain. This was apparently written by Solomon.)

I recently attended a worship service, where the above passage was part of the scripture reading for the day. I had never noticed the emphasized phrase, or verse 5, which is similar. These are striking phrases!

I can find no scientific predictions that the moon is going to disappear from the sky anytime soon, presumably because it will eventually fall into the earth.

This is poetry, not astronomy or geology, and Solomon may have just been using a figure of speech. I don't know. But my guess is that he was referring prophetically to Christ's reign, with will last forever. Amen.